Brandon Walker
{{short description|Australian rules football player}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2021}}
{{Use Australian English|date=June 2021}}
{{Infobox AFL biography
| name = Brandon Walker
| image =
| fullname = Brandon Walker
| nickname = The Don
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|2002|10|17|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Ghana
| death_date =
| death_place =
| originalteam = East Fremantle (WAFL)
| draftpick = No. 50, 2020 national draft
| height = 186 cm
| weight = 77 kg
| position = Half back
| currentclub = {{AFL Fre}}
| guernsey = 31
| years1 = 2021–
| club1 = {{AFL Fre}}
| games_goals1 = 65 (2)
| statsend = round 1, 2025
| careerhighlights =
- Rising Star Nomination: 2022
- Beacon Award: 2022
}}
Brandon Walker (born 17 October 2002) is an Australian rules football player who plays for the Fremantle Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL).
Early Career
A member of Fremantle's Next Generation Academy (NGA) due to being born in Ghana,{{cite web |title=Fremantle Dockers NGA players |url=https://www.fremantlefc.com.au/nga/fremantle-nga-players |website=fremantlefc.com.au |access-date=12 June 2021 |language=en}} Walker was drafted with the 50th selection in the 2020 national draft, when Fremantle matched Essendon's bid.{{cite web |title=The bidding ladder: 'Bidmond' Tigers at it again, Crows' bid luck continues |url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/528749/big-bidders |website=afl.com.au |access-date=12 June 2021 |language=en}} He had played junior football for East Fremantle and represented Western Australia at Under 16 and Under 18 levels. His twin brother, Chris, also plays football for East Fremantle.
AFL Career
He was selected to make his AFL debut for Fremantle in round 13 of the 2021 AFL season against Gold Coast, alongside fellow 2020 draftee and NGA member, Joel Western.{{cite news |last1=Woodcock |first1=Mitchell |title=Walker, Western... WOOHOO! Debut for Dockers duo |url=https://www.perthnow.com.au/sport/afl/brandon-walker-and-joel-western-locked-in-for-fremantle-dockers-debuts-against-gold-coast-c-3072770 |access-date=12 June 2021 |work=PerthNow |date=10 June 2021 |language=en}}
Walker received a 2022 AFL Rising Star nomination for his round 13 performance against Hawthorn at Optus Stadium, collecting 16 disposals and kicking a goal.{{cite news|title=Speedy Docker the latest Rising Star nominee|url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/780195/brandon-walker-is-the-round-13-nab-afl-rising-star|access-date=17 August 2022|work=afl.com.au|language=en}} He finished the season having played 21 games.
Walker had a strong start to the 2023 AFL season in which he played 14 consecutive games. However, Walker suffered a knee injury in Round 18 against {{AFL Col}} after landing awkwardly during a marking contest,{{cite news|last=Healey|first=Catherine |title='It just buckles underneath!': Freo defender carried off after 'terrible' MCG scene|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/it-just-buckles-underneath-freo-defender-carried-off-after-terrible-mcg-scene/news-story/b3c3cc216e864bea7ff52cfa88b352ba|access-date=13 December 2023|work=foxsports|language=en}} and as a result was ruled out for the remainder of the season.{{cite news|last=Dejan|first=Kalinic|title=Freo hopeful over ruckman, defender's knee injury 'pretty serious'|url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/978693/fremantle-dockers-hopeful-over-ruckman-sean-darcy-defender-brandon-walkers-knee-injury-pretty-serious|access-date=13 December 2023|work=afl.com.au|language=en}} Walker signed a three-year contract extension in December of 2023, tying him to Fremantle until at least the end of 2027.{{cite news|last=|first=|title=Walks signs on until 2027!
|url=https://www.fremantlefc.com.au/news/1472614/walks-signs-on-until-2027|access-date=13 December 2023|work=fremantlefc.com.au|language=en}}
Brandon returned to the Fremantle line-up for their second game of the 2024 AFL season against {{AFL NM}} at Marvel Stadium.{{cite news|title=Brandon Walker: Triumph through tribulation|url=https://www.fremantlefc.com.au/news/1516263/brandon-walker-triumph-through-tribulation#:~:text=Walker's%20return%20game%20saw%20Fremantle,ground%20with%20his%20horrific%20injury.|access-date=19 May 2024|work=fremantlefc.com.au|date=29 March 2024|first=|last=}} He was one of Fremantle's best players in round 9 during their disappointing loss to the {{AFL Syd}} Swans at Optus Stadium, collecting 19 disposals and kicking an impressive goal from outside the fifty-metre line.{{cite news|title=Match Stats|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/match-centre/AFL20240903|work=Fox Sports|date= |first=|last=}}
Statistics
: Statistics are correct to the end of 2024{{cite web|url=https://afltables.com/afl/stats/players/B/Brandon_Walker.html|title=Brandon Walker|publisher=AFL Tables|access-date=26 May 2022}}
{{AFL player statistics legend}}
{{AFL player statistics start}}
|-
| 2021 || {{AFL Fre}} || 31
| 10 || 0 || 3 || 72 || 32 || 104 || 36 || 17 || 0.0 || 0.3 || 7.2 || 3.2 || 10.4 || 3.6 || 1.7
|-
| 2022 || {{AFL Fre}} || 31
| 21 || 1 || 1 || 186 || 110 || 296 || 67 || 43 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 8.9 || 5.2 || 14.1 || 3.2 || 2.0
|-
| 2023 || {{AFL Fre}} || 31
| 14 || 0 || 0 || 93 || 52 || 145 || 41 || 19 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 6.6 || 3.7 || 10.4 || 2.9 || 1.4
|-
| 2024 || {{AFL Fre}} || 31
| 19 || 1 || 0 || 167 || 99 || 266 || 71 || 40 || 0.1 || 0.0 || 8.8 || 5.2 || 14.0 || 3.7 || 2.1
|- class="sortbottom"
! colspan=3| Career
! 64 !! 2 !! 4 !! 518 !! 293 !! 811 !! 215 !! 119 !! 0.0 !! 0.1 !! 8.1 !! 4.6 !! 12.7 !! 3.4 !! 1.9
|}
Notes
{{notelist}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Fremplayer}}
- {{AFL Tables}}
- {{AustralianFootball}}
- {{WAFL FootyFacts}}
- [https://www.wafl.com.au/player/Brandon-Walker WAFL player profile]
{{Fremantle player squad}}
{{2020 AFL national draft}}
{{2022 AFL Rising Star nominees}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Walker, Brandon}}
Category:Fremantle Football Club players
Category:Peel Thunder Football Club players
Category:Australian rules footballers from Western Australia
Category:Ghanaian emigrants to Australia